Taxis and the door-to-door service they provide are an important mode of transport for people with disabilities. It is important that disabled people who use guide and other assistance dogs have confidence that they can hire a taxi, which will carry them and their dog at no extra charge.
Since 2001, drivers of licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles and Private Hire vehicles have a duty to carry any guide or other assistance dog travelling with a disabled person, at no additional cost.
In 2006, further duties were introduced to make it unlawful for taxi providers to refuse or offer a lower standard of service to a disabled person, for a reason relating to their disability. For example, a taxi operator making a guide or other assistance dog owner wait longer for a vehicle than a passenger without a disability, because some drivers prefer not to carry an assistance dog.
The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 amends the Equality Act 2010 to place duties on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers/operators. Any disabled person has specific rights and protections to be transported and receive assistance when using a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle, without being charged extra. This requires drivers to provide reasonable adjustments for passengers with a disability (please see below for more information).
Breaches of these duties can be reported to local licensing authorities, who can take appropriate action.
Cultural beliefs can raise sensitive issues relating to dogs. However, religious grounds cannot be used to exclude assistance dog owners. The Equality and Human Rights Commission successfully reached agreement on this with several religious groups. Assistance dogs are working animals, not pets. They are trained to provide independence and mobility to their owners. Assistance dog owners are trained to maintain a high grooming standard of their dog, with attention to cleanliness.
The only grounds for any driver to decline to carry an assistance dog is through the approved medical exemption process. Drivers cannot refuse to take a person travelling with their assistance dog, unless they have a valid medical exemption certificate from the appropriate licensing authority, to show that they are unable to carry an assistance dog for health reasons. An exemption notice must be displayed in the vehicle when it is being driven by the exempted driver.
Providers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people in the way they provide their services. This does not include physical adjustments to the vehicle.
In relation to taxis, reasonable adjustments may include:
For more information on sighted guide training, please visit: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/sighted-guide-training/
For more information on supporting customers with sight loss, please visit: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/research/policy-and-guidance-for-businesses/guidance-for-taxi-staff/#practical-things-that-drivers-and-other-staff-can-do
For more information on the law and carrying guide or other assistance dogs, please visit: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/-/media/project/guidedogs/guidedogsdotorg/files/how-you-can-help/campaigning/open-doors-information-for-taxi-and-phv-operators.pdf/
The Equality and Human Rights Commission booklet entitled 'Take the lead – A guide to welcoming customers with assistance dogs' can be accessed by visiting: www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/take-the-lead-welcoming-customers-with-assistance-dogs_0.pdf
Contact the team directly on 01773 570222 or email licensing@ambervalley.gov.uk
